Make Certain That USCIS Has Your Proper Address!!!

[EricInPS 6]

I posted this in the February 2017 Filers Thread but figured it could help everyone:

 

My friend received an email updating her that her card was delivered today, only it wasn't. Tracking it though a visit to the local Post Office showed that it was delivered TO HER OLD ADDRESS! Now, she had changed her address online almost a year ago and received an email verifying the change. Two months ago, when we went to a Fast Pass appt for the passport stamp, I purposely asked them to read back the address on file, and it was, indeed, the correct one. And yet, they still mailed it to the old address. 

 

If you have changed your address at any time during the I-751 process, make sure that the only address they have on file is the correct one. Luckily, we were able to snatch the envelope out of the mailbox at the old address. A possible felony, to be sure, but one that I was happy for her to commit.

[Unidentified 2,930]

I would recommend taking the extra step and just do the paper version. Way too many people are having issues with the online filing. It doesn't seem to work even if you receive an email confirmation. 

[TM92 527]

6 minutes ago, EricInPS said:

Luckily, we were able to snatch the envelope out of the mailbox at the old address. A possible felony, to be sure, but one that I was happy for her to commit.

Looks like its a legal gray area because the people in the old address would have been in trouble if they had opened your friends envelope: https://legalbeagle.com/7536906-illegal-open-someones-mailbox.html

[EricInPS 6]

Just now, TM92 said:

Looks like its a legal gray area because the people in the old address would have been in trouble if they had opened your friends envelope: https://legalbeagle.com/7536906-illegal-open-someones-mailbox.html

Plus, the letter was addressed to my friend, so technically it was here mail regardless of what box it was put in to.

[geowrian 22,337]

9 minutes ago, EricInPS said:

A possible felony, to be sure, but one that I was happy for her to commit.

I do work with USPS, and I had to actually look this up to confirm. Yes, it is against federal law to open somebody else's mailbox without their permission (or other authorized access, such as for somebody who is deceased). This includes to even grab your own mail in that mailbox.

However, no reasonable person would try to prosecute the action unless associated with other criminal activity, such as fraud or attempting to damage or obtain somebody else's mail. But obviously nobody wants to be in the position of having to explain it to the homeowner or LEO...not a fun day. haha

[Teemo 252]

51 minutes ago, EricInPS said:

I posted this in the February 2017 Filers Thread but figured it could help everyone:

 

My friend received an email updating her that her card was delivered today, only it wasn't. Tracking it though a visit to the local Post Office showed that it was delivered TO HER OLD ADDRESS! Now, she had changed her address online almost a year ago and received an email verifying the change. Two months ago, when we went to a Fast Pass appt for the passport stamp, I purposely asked them to read back the address on file, and it was, indeed, the correct one. And yet, they still mailed it to the old address. 

 

If you have changed your address at any time during the I-751 process, make sure that the only address they have on file is the correct one. Luckily, we were able to snatch the envelope out of the mailbox at the old address. A possible felony, to be sure, but one that I was happy for her to commit.

You can also go to the USPS website and have them forward mail from your old address to yours...another backup

[Unidentified 2,930]

4 minutes ago, Teemo said:

You can also go to the USPS website and have them forward mail from your old address to yours...another backup

Doesn't that work only for a short time after the address change though? Like a year or something?

[shumway1756 304]

5 minutes ago, Unidentified said:

Doesn't that work only for a short time after the address change though? Like a year or something?

2 years I think, if I remember correctly from my last move.

[Unidentified 2,930]

1 minute ago, shumway1756 said:

2 years I think, if I remember correctly from my last move.

Okay, I thought it was one but I guess it could be two. We moved right after receiving my Green Card and two years later we received our reminder to apply for ROC letter sent to our old address. Lucky for us it was sent back to USCIS who then somehow figured out our new address (maybe because my husband's address change worked) and I finally got my letter and a form to change my address. 

[Teemo 252]

20 minutes ago, Unidentified said:

Doesn't that work only for a short time after the address change though? Like a year or something?

 

14 minutes ago, shumway1756 said:

2 years I think, if I remember correctly from my last move.

I think you can do it either temporary up to a year or permanently which is, well, permanent

[Ash.1101 1,756]

1 hour ago, EricInPS said:

I posted this in the February 2017 Filers Thread but figured it could help everyone:

 

My friend received an email updating her that her card was delivered today, only it wasn't. Tracking it though a visit to the local Post Office showed that it was delivered TO HER OLD ADDRESS! Now, she had changed her address online almost a year ago and received an email verifying the change. Two months ago, when we went to a Fast Pass appt for the passport stamp, I purposely asked them to read back the address on file, and it was, indeed, the correct one. And yet, they still mailed it to the old address. 

 

If you have changed your address at any time during the I-751 process, make sure that the only address they have on file is the correct one. Luckily, we were able to snatch the envelope out of the mailbox at the old address. A possible felony, to be sure, but one that I was happy for her to commit.

The confirmation of address change online is pure BS.

We did the address change in Feb 2017. In Feb 2018, they kept trying to send the notice to file for ROC to the old address. Eventually after it being kicked back twice, they finally sent it to the right address. Even with the e-mail confirmation, it clearly wasn't actually updated in the system.

But yeah I agree, making sure 100% the correct address is on file is super important if you move at any time.

[Ketsuban 1,034]

4 hours ago, Teemo said:

You can also go to the USPS website and have them forward mail from your old address to yours...another backup

I read from some people that setting up a redirect won't work for the green card package because there's no forwarding service requested on it. It either gets delivered to the old address or if your mailman notices the name on the old box doesn't match, it gets returned to USCIS. Maybe @geowrian could confirm that

 

It's part of the reason I haven't moved out of where I live yet.

Edited July 27, 2018 by Ketsuban

[TM92 527]

10 minutes ago, Ketsuban said:

It's part of the reason I haven't moved out of where I live yet.

Don't take it to the extreme; e.g. squatting

[Daisy.Chain 317]

5 hours ago, Unidentified said:

Okay, I thought it was one but I guess it could be two. We moved right after receiving my Green Card and two years later we received our reminder to apply for ROC letter sent to our old address. Lucky for us it was sent back to USCIS who then somehow figured out our new address (maybe because my husband's address change worked) and I finally got my letter and a form to change my address. 

As of a month ago USPS forwarded "real" mail for a year, and magazines etc for a few mos.

[Daisy.Chain 317]

I filed change of address online - no confirmation. A few weeks later I filed identical paperwork and 30 days later finally got the paper confirmation.